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BRICK  ROW 
BOOK  SHOP 

CATALOGUE  OF  ROBERT 
LOUIS  STEVENSON 


THE  LIBRARY 
OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 

OF  CALIFORNIA 

LOS  ANGELES 


<iA  Catalogue  of 

ROBERT    LOUIS 
STEVENSON 

AUTOGRAPH 
MATERIAL 


The  'Btqck^  T{gw  "Booi^Shop 

INCORPORATED 

ig  East  47 th  Street,  :Njw  Tork^ 

CNljw  York  Trinceten 


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I^ondon 


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I  9  2  I 


The  "Brick  1{ow  Book  Shop,  Inc. 

has  just  issued  a  catalogue  of 
choice  Johnson-GoldsmithjCole- 
ridge  and  Lamb  first  editions. 

We  shall  be  glad  to  send  this 
catalogue  to  those  who  may  de- 
sire it,  upon  written  request. 

All  books  guaranteed  to  be  in 
good  second  hand  condition  un- 
less noted.  The  prices  are  net 
and  do  not  include  postage. 


<lA  Catalogue  of 

ROBERT    LOUIS 
STEVENSON 

AUTOGRAPH 
MATERIAL 


The  "Bt^ick^  I^jv  'Sook^Shop  ^ 

INCORPORATED 

ig  East  47TH  Street,  J^jv  Tork^ 

J^zv  York  T^rifjceton 


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J^ndon 


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Foreword 

npHE  BRICK   ROW  BOOK    SHOP, 

Inc.  presents  herewith  a  group  of  Rob- 
ert Louis  Stevenson  items  which  it  beHeves 
to  be  unequalled.  Childhood  letters,  boyhood 
letters,  boarding  school  letters,  travel  letters, 
engineering  letters,  literary  and  journal  letters 
make  up  a  rich  and  varied  series  representing 
the  chief  events  of  his  life. 

Practically  all  of  this  material  is  in  Stevenson's 
own  hand  and  is  unpublished. 

In  addition  to  the  letters  there  are  several 
interesting  and  important  M.  S.  drafts  of  his 
verse  and  prose,  including  portions  of  some 
of  his  better  known  works  and  several  yet 
unpublished. 

Taken  as  a  whole,  this  choice  collection  of 
R.  L.  S.  material  is  felt  to  be  a  real  boon  to 
those  who  value  some  association  with  the 
best  loved  figure  in  modern  literature. 


S45043 


Digitized  by  tine  Internet  Arciiive 

in  2008  witii  funding  from 

IVIicrosoft  Corporation 


littp://www.arcliive.org/details/catalogueofroberOObric 


Robert  Louis   Stevenson 


1.  [Aug.,  1856.] — 3  small  pp.,  signed  (after  one 
false  start),  in  childish  print,  RoberT-LewIs.  B.  S.te- 
Venson.     Unpublished. 

Dictated  to  his  nurse,  as  he  was  not  six  years  old  at 
this  time.  The  earliest  real  letter  included  in  Mrs. 
Isobel  Strong's  sale  of  Stevenson's  effects,  and  seven 
years  earlier  than  the  first  published  by  Colvin — 

"I  am  wearying  for  an  answer  to  my  last  letter.   ...   I  am 
making  myself  very  happy  tonight.     I  am  wondering  how  eng- 
lishmen can  attend  to  their  work  &  beat  on  drums  because  there 
is  a  picture  in  Punch  &  it  is  a  man  beating  a  great  many  drums 
on  an  engine." 
The  charm  of  the  phrasing  is  unmistakable,  and  the  little  note  is 
certainly  evidence  that  his  famous  mature  "style"  was  not  wholly 
the  result  of  copying  models 200  .  OO 

A  Group  of  three  holograph  boyhood  letters  to  his 
mother,  written  from  the  boarding  school  at  Spring 
Grove,  near  London,  which  Stevenson  attended  for  a  few 
months  during  the  fall  of  iS6j,  at  the  age  of  I  J. 

2.  [Nov.  or  Dec,  1863.] — 3  pp.,  signed  R.  Steven- 
son.    Unpublished. 

"I  hope  that  the  sitting  room  has  got  a  good  view  of  'La  Med- 
iteranee.  I  was  at  the  Hilbury's  to  tea  yesterday  we  had  par- 
lour croquet  and  Mrs.  Hilbury  called  me  the  turk  because  I  used 
to  croquet  everyone.  .  .  .  My  dear  mama  I  am  to  send  7  loves 
from  7  different  people." 200.00 

3.  Sunday  [Dec,  1863.] — 3  pp.,  signed  R.  Steven- 
son.    Unpublished. 

"Do  tell  me  in  your  next  letter  about  some  excursion.  .  .  . 
I  long  to  see  dear  old  Mentoni  again  with  the  olives  and  the 
oranges.  Is  the  prince's  palace  not  bought  yet?  Do  the  frogs 
make  as  much  noise  as  last  year?  We  are  to  begin  examination 
on  Monday:    Have  you  been  on  any  donkey  excursions?" 25o.OO 

4.  Sunday  [Dec,  1863.] — 3  pp.,  signed  R.  Steven- 
son.    Unpublished. 

"I  hope  that  papa  is  well  for  he  has  not  written  to  me  for 
nearly  three  weeks.  I  will  have  finished  work  on  Friday  the 
l8th  and  the  boys  are  to  go  away  on  Saturday.  I  hope  papa 
will  come  for  me  soon  as  I  wish  to  spend  Christmas  at  Mentoni. 
...  I  am  wearying  very  much  you  may  be  sure  for  the  time 
when  I  am  to  come  to  Mentoni." 200.00 


THE  BRICK  ROW  BOOK  SHOP,  INC. 


5.  [Mentone,  Feby.,  1864.] — 4  pp.,  signed  R.  L. 
Stevenson.     Unpublished. 

Holograph  letter  to  his  Father,  after  his  departure 
from  Wyatt's  boarding  school  at  Spring  Grove,  near 
London,  telling  of  their  amusements  at  Mentone,  and 
including  a  small  drawing  labelled,  "Danish  War" 
and  a  small  water  color  sketch  labelled,  "Design  for 
Lady's  Brooch."  Delightfully  humorous  through- 
out. 

"Mamma  does  not  like  your  'cafFe  au  Stevenson'  ni  moi,  ni 
Jessie  non  plus.  .  .  .  One  of  the  donkeys  ran  off  and  played  about 
till  a  man  enticed  it  with  a  loaf  and  M  received  the  wretched 
pittance  of  4  pence  for  it.  .  .  .  If  Jessie  wasn't  more  dead  than 
alive  I  have  no  doubt  she  would  join  me  in  well  wishes  to  Edin- 
burgh. .  .  .  The  cursed  souries  are  as  troublesome  as  ever  and 
ten  times  more  cunning." 
Contains  important  early  mention  of  his  "cough"  and  evidence  of  his 
courageous  attitude 25O.OO 

6.  [Torquay,  March,  1865.] — Rhyming  letter,  3  pp., 
unsigned,  in  Mrs.  Stevenson's  hand.  She  writes  at 
the  top  of  the  first  page:  "Sent  to  several  people.  I 
have  lost  the  first  edition,  which  was  the  best.  This 
one  was  sent  to  Cummy's  Mother"  44  lines  of 
verse.  Endorsed  in  pencil:  "Dictated  to  Mrs. 
Stevenson  by  R.  L.  S."     Unpublished. 

"Our  ill  luck  never  seems  to  leave  us 

The  weather  here  is  just  as  grevious 

As  it  was  in  Edinburry 

Which  we  left  in  such  a  hurry 

For  to  try  if  we  could  find 

A  place  more  suited  to  Ma's  mind."  50*00 


A  series  of  letters  recounting  Stevenson  s  experiences 
during  his  attempts  at  following  his  father  s  footsteps  in 
the  profession  of  lighthouse  e^igineering.  This  period 
furnished  material  for  his  later  essay  ^  "Random  Memor- 
ies: The  Coast  of  Fife.*' 

7.  Anchor  House,  Sunday  evening  [1867  or  1868.] 
— 8  pp.,  signed  R.  L.  Stevenson.     Unpublished. 

Holograph  letter  to  his  Mother,  with  amusing 
description  of  the  journey  and  the  people  he  met,  and 
messages  to  his  friends. 

"I  addressed  to  him  some  remarks  on  the  subject  of  the  weather; 

but  he  appeared  completely  shut  up  by  the  novelty  of  my  views  on 

the  subject,  as  he  said  no  more  till  the  end  of  our  journey.     By 


THE  BRICK  ROW  BOOK  SHOP,  INC. 


dwelling  on  this  subject,  it  seems  that  his  mind,  too  weak  to 
grapple  with  such  subjects,  became  entirely  deranged;  for  he 
suddenly  began  to  talk  aloud  to  himself  and  to  snap  his  fingers, 
and  to  nod  his  head.  .  .  .  By  the  by  I'm  becoming  radical  too. 
Nothing  about  anything  but  subjects." 
A  fine  example  of  his  typical  charm  and  whimsical  observation  .  .    200.00 

8.  [Anstruther,  July,  1868.] — 7  pp.,  signed  R.  L. 
Stevenson.     In  part,  unpublished. 

Holograph  letter  to  his  Mother,  during  his  month's 
engineering  experience  at  Anstruther  in  Fifeshire, 
giving  an  account  of  some  strolling  players. 

"Tell  Papa  that  his  boat-builders  are  the  most  illiterate  brutes 
with  whom  I  ever  had  any  dealing.  .  .  .  Have  you  sent  the 
Essays  off?  Do  see  to  it.?  Can  you  find  and  send  to  me  the  last 
lines  of  Longfellow's  Golden  Legend.  .  .  .  Tonight  I  went  with 
the  youngest  Morrison  to  see  a  strolling  band  of  players  in  the 
town-hall.  .  .  .  We  left  soon,  and  I  must  say  came  out  as  sad  as 
I  have  been  for  ever  so  long." 
A  literary  craftsman's  scorn  of  bad  writing;  and  a  most  human  piece 
of  dramatic  criticism 2CO.OO 


9.  [Wick,  Sept.,  1868.] — 4  pp.,  8vo,  signed  R.  L. 
Stevenson.     Unpublished. 

Holograph  letter  to  his  Father,  relative  to  his  work 
on  the  harbor  at  Wick  and  his  descending  for  the  first 
time  in  a  diver's  suit. 

"I  think  what  you  say  about  the  diving  is  nonsense.  I  should 
only  try  in  shallow  water  and  if  any  effect  were  produced  could  go 
out  immediately:  if  all  were  right,  should  go  in  deeper,  gradually. 
Besides  if  I  don't  get  a  shot  at  it,  I  lose  great  part  of  my  idea  of  the 
work.  .  .  .  What  is  the  weight  of  a  square  foot  of  salt  water?  and 
how  many  lbs.  are  there  to  a  ton.?  I  think  you  had  better  not  send 
that  certificate  of  extra  work  till  the  cross  wall  is  finished.  Take 
care  how  you  word  it.  .  .  .  Would  it  not  interest  you  and  be  of 
use  in  some  future  report  to  have  the  measurements  and  calculated 
weight  of  any  stones  which  have  been  evidently  moved  by  the  sea;" 
regarding  the  creed  of  a  Free  Church  minister  he  says:  "Ah  fie! 
what  a  creed!" 1 50-00 

10.  Wick  [Sept.,  1868.] — 4  pp.,  i6mo,  signed  R.  L. 
Stevenson. 

Holograph  letter  to  his  Father,  with  a  postscript 
signed  with  initials.  Asks  his  father  for  some  build- 
ing directions  and  describes  the  rescue  of  a  man  who 
had  fallen  from  some  staging  into  the  water.  Pub- 
lished in  part. 

1 50 . 00 


THE  BRICK  ROW  BOOK  SHOP,  INC. 


II.  Wick  [Sept. II,  1868.] — 8    pp.,    signed    R.    L. 
Stevenson.      Published. 

Holograph  letter  to  his  Mother.     Gives  a  descrip- 
tion of  Wick  and  records  his  experiences  as  follows: 
"Certainly  Wick  in  itself  possesses  no  beauty;  bare,  grey  shores, 
grim,  grey  houses;  not  even  the  gleam  of  red  tiles;  ...  In  Wick 
I  have  never  heard  any  one  greet  his  neighbour  with  the  usual 
'Fine  day'  or  'Good  morning'  .   .  .  the  streets  are  full  of  the 
Highland  fishers,  lubberly,  stupid,  inconceivably  lazy  and  heavy 
to  move.     You  bruise  against  them,  tumble  them  over,  elbow 
them  against  the  wall — ail  to  no  purpose;  they  will  not  budge."  etc. 
An   early   Portfolio   paper   "On   the   Enjoyment   of   Unpleasant 
Places,"  as  well  as  the  second  part  of  the  "Random  Memories" 
essay,  written  by  Stevenson  twenty  years  later,  refer  to  the  same 
experiences  as  the  above  letter 3'-*'-'  ■  ^*-* 


12.  Wick  Thursday,  Sept.,  1868.] — 3  pp.,  signed 
R.  L.  Stevenson. 

Holograph  letter.  Portions  unpublished.  A  some- 
what technical  letter  to  his  Father,  telling  of  his  work.   150.00 


13.  Wick  [Sept.,  1868.] — 8  pp.,  signed  R.  L. 
Stevenson.     In  part  unpublished. 

Holograph  letter  to  his  Mother.  An  extraordinary 
letter  describing  a  storm  at  sea 

"...  the  thunder  at  the  wall  when  it  first  struck,  the  rush 
along  ever  growing  higher,  the  great  jet  of  snow-white  spray 
some  forty  feet  above  you,  and  the  'noise  of  many  waters,'  the 
roar,  the  hiss,  the  'shrieking'  among  the  shingle  as  it  fell  head 
over  heels  at  your  feet." 3^0.00 


14.  News  Harbor  Hotel,  Saturday  [Wick,  Sept.  26, 
1868.] — 2  pp.,  signed  R.  L.  Stevenson. 

Holograph    letter    to    his    Mother.     Unpublished. 
For  lack  of  news  he  sends  her  a  Latin  verse  with  the 
following  translation:  "traductio  in  linguam  vulgi — 
Nothing  have  I  for  to  say: 

In  this  my  story  doth  begin: 
Nothing  have  I  for  to  say: 
This  my  story  endeth  in." 
Refers  to  his  work  at  Wick — "I  hope   to   get  pole  up  today.  .  . 
But  'tis  the  workman's  pleasure,  ma'am,  that  we  have  to  attend  on," 
etc.     Somewhat  stained 1 3  5  •  00 


15.  Wick  [Wednesday,  Sept.,  1868.] — 8  pp.,  signed 
R.  L.  Stevenson  to  his  Father  and  Mother.        The 


THE  BRICK  ROW  BOOK  SHOP,  INC. 


first  two  pages  are  written  to  his  Father  and  relate  to 
the  wrecking  of  the  sea-wall  at  Anstruther,  giving 
the  reason  for  the  same: 

"It  was  that  confounded  Billowness — hearting — so  much  sand, 
French  chalk  coagulated  with  water!  It  is  the  very  last  stuff  to  put 
for  hearting  at  any  rate;  for  it  will  crush  to  bits.  I  suppose  it 
washed  out  from  the  open  end;  and  the  sea  exploded  the  Inner- 
wall.  I  fancy  Adamson's  face!  Poor,  poor,  bankrupt  Harbour 
commission!  I  am  glad  the  sea-wall  stood,  but  I  quake  for  it 
tonight,"     etc. 

The  last  six  pages  are  written  to  his  mother  and  give  one  of  his 
characteristic  sketches  of  a  visit  to  Ackergill  Tower,  undertaken  on 
the  invitation  of  Mrs.  Wemyss,  of  whom  he  says:  "She  has  the 
prettiest  little  children  I  ever  saw."     Somewhat  stained 3OO.OO 


16.  Chambers,  84 George  St.,  June  27,  [1870].  Edin- 
burgh.— 4  pp.,  signed  R.  L.  Stevenson.  Unpublished. 

Holograph  letter  to  his  Mother  describing  a  picnic, 

etc. 

"Sabbatic  peace  was  the  order  of  the  day:  Cummy  smiled  and 
all  faces  relaxed  in  the  genial  sunshine  of  her  favour.  We  envied 
not  Lucullus  his  banquets,  clearing  out  a  gooseberry  tart  till  it 
was  'pure  in  the  last  recesses  of  the  dish"  ...  I  am  getting  on 
pretty  well  at  Park's." 

Begins  and  ends  with  a  church-going  experience  which  suggests 
the  coming  religious  breach  with  his  Father 1 75-^0 


A  group  of  three  letters  Jrom  Frankfort,  Germany, 
where  he  spent  a  few  weeks  with  Sir  Walter  Simpson 
before  going  on  his  walking  trip  in  the  Black  Forest. 

17.  Frankfurt  [July  29,  1872.]— 4  pp.,  signed  R.  L. 
Stevenson.     In  large  part  unpublished. 

Holograph  letter  to  his  Mother,  telling  of  novel 
experiences  with  the  German  language  and  people. 
Mentions  Sir  Walter  Simpson,  his  companion  in  "An 
Inland  Voyage." 

".  .  .  gave  me  the  greatest  compliment  that  I  think  I  ever 
received — he  took  me  for  a  Frenchman.  .  .  .  Last  night  I  met 
with  rather  an  amusing  adventurette.  .  .  .  The  most  courageous 
men  in  the  world  must  be  entomologists.  I  had  rather  be  a  lion- 
tamer.   .   .  .  Do  write  some  more,  somebody." 

Very  interesting  early  impressions  of  Germany.  It  is  strange 
that  Colvin  should  have  felt  called  upon  to  delete  from  his  published 
version  of  this  letter  all  the  highly  significant  passages  showing 
Stevenson's  life-long  exaltation  of  France  above  Germany 105  .OO 


10 THE  BRICK  ROW  BOOK  SHOP,  INC. 

i8.  Frankfort  [Aug.  i,  1872.] — 6  pp.,  unsigned. 
In    part,    unpublished. 

Holograph  letter  to  his  Mother,  describing  an 
excursion  to  Eckenheim.  Ten-line  postscript  added 
the  following  day  on  a  separate  sheet  with  his  signa- 
ture, is  missing. 

Setting  aside  the  Doctor,  who  had  evidently  turned  the  brains 
of  the  entire  village,  they  were  intelligent  people  ....  Of  course 
we  got  upon  Scotland.     The  hostess  said: 

"Die  Schottldnder  trinken  gern  schnaaps,"  which  may  be  freely 
translated,   "Scotchmen  are  horrid  fond  of  whisky."      It  was  im- 
possible of  course  to  combat  such  a  truism. 
Refers  to  a  German  translation  of  Burns.     Casts  some  light  on 
Stevenson's  convictions  about  nationalism  and  patriotism.    A  good 
letter 200.00 


19.  Frankfurt  [Aug.  11,  1872.] — 4  pp.,  signed  R.  L. 
Stevenson;  with  a  postscript  signed  R.  L.  S.  Un- 
published. 

Holograph  letter  to  his  Father,  about  plans  for 
meeting  him  in  Baden,  and  about  difficulties  arising 
from  the  sudden  illness  of  Sir  Walter  Simpson's 
brother. 

"I  can  scarcely  tell  you  what  a  lucky  thing  your  draft  was.  .  .  . 
It  is  an  awfully  sad  affair  and  has  broken  up  our  pleasant  establish- 
ment in  a  sufficiently  dismal  manner.  I  hope  he  will  pull  through 
yet.  Simpson,  who  believes  in  presentiments,  seems  to  think  he 
will.  .   .  .  Leipzig  is  the  next  address." 

Simpson  is  the  "Cigarette"  of  "An  Inland  Voyage,"  and  figures 
elsewhere  in  Stevenson's  works.  This  tour  in  Germany  was  the 
result  of  the  decision  reached  in  the  preceding  year,  that  Stevenson 
should  give  up  engineering 200.00 


20.  Chespton    Place    [Oct.,    1873.] — 4    pp.,    note 
paper.     Unpublished. 

Holograph    letter    to    his    Mother,    signed    R.    L. 
Stevenson  with  a  postscript  signed  L,  S. 

An  interesting  letter  on   being  "ordered  South"  by 
Dr.  Andrew  Clark  and  ending 

"I  feel  wonderfully  cheory  in  spite  of  the  Dr.,  so  rejoice  muchly 

at  that" 200.00 


21.  Monaco  [Dec.  17,  1873.] — 3  pp.,  signed  R.  L. 
Stevenson.     Unpublished. 

Holograph  letter  to  his  Mother  from  Monaco, 
whither    he    had    repaired    from    Mentone    to    meet 


THE  BRICK  ROW  BOOK  SHOP,  INC. 11 

Sidney  Colvin,  who  had  come  from  England  to  spend 
the  Christmas  vacation  with  him.  "Ordered  South" 
was  the  fruit  of  the  Monaco  experiences  here  described, 
and  others  like  them. 

"I    shall  dine  tomorrow  I  believe  with  the  notorious  Sir  Charles 
Dilke  ....  We  have  just  come  back  from  dining  with  the  Dilke's. 
.  .  .  Lady  Dilke  is  a  first  rate  mimic.  ...  I  am  really  well 
pleased  with  my  progress  just  now.     I  am  less  tired  and  dispirited 
than  I  was  by  a  great  way;  and  of  course,  Colvin's  being  with  me 
is  a  great  amusement.   .   .   .  We  have  the  gardens  at  hand  and  can 
go  and  bake  ourselves  under  the  palms  at  a  moment's  notice." 
Dilke's  opposition  to  the  monarchic  form  of  government  was  in  its 
most  sensational  stage  at  this  time.     Sir  Sidney  Colvin  eventually 
edited  Stevenson's  letters,  and  modestly  excluded  this  one,  in  which 
he  figures  so  prominently.     It  is  important  as  registering  the  begin- 
ning of  this  great  friendship,  a  life-influence  with  Stevenson,  which 
dates  from  this  year 1 50 .CO 


22.  Hotel  St.  Romain,  Paris  [April  6,  1874.] —  2  pp., 
signed  Robert  Louis  Stevenson.     Unpublished. 

Holograph  letter  to  his  Mother,  about  his  painter- 
cousin,  R.  A.  M.  Stevenson,  and  his  own  plans  and 
work. 

"I  got  a  telegram  the  night  of  my  arrival  here,  saying  you  dis- 
approved of  the  move;  well  I  didn't  approve  of  it  particularly  my- 
self; I  only  did  it  to  be  the  sooner  able  to  come  home.   .   .  .   Bob 
seems  to  have  improved  very  much  in  his  work.   .   .   .  There  will 
be  an  article  of  mine  in  MacmiUan  for  (I  think)  May;  it's  not  very 
well  done — not  nearly  so  well  as  Roads — but  I  believe  people 
find  it  interesting." 
"Roads"  was  Stevenson's  first  magazine  article.     "Ordered  South," 
above  referred  to,  appeared  as  he  expected,  and  was  later  included  in 
"Virginibus  Puerisque."     This  letter  is  noteworthy  in  mentioning 
his  two  earliest  contributions  to  the  periodical  press I  ^O  .  OO 


23.  Hampstead  [June,  1874.] — 4  pp.,  signed  R.  L. 
S.     Unpublished. 

Holograph  letter  to  his  Mother,  describing  his  stay 
with  Sidney  Colvin  just  outside  of  London  and  his 
enjoyment  of  the  Sairle  Club.  It  was  here  that  he  got 
the  idea  for  part  of  his  essay,  "Notes  on  the  Move- 
ments of  Young  Children." 

"Hampstead  is  all  my  fancy  painted  it;  it  is  so  quiet,  healthful 
and  beautiful.  .  .  .  I  like  my  club  very  much.  .  .  .  it  is  not  dear, 
and  one  meets  agreeable  people.  ...  I  have  stopped  my  tonic 
now  for  a  fortnight  without  harm,  and  I  can  walk  a  great  deal 
more.  .  .  .  There  is  rather  a  nice  article  of  Colvin's  in  this 
MacmiUan.  Wicked  Leslie  Stephen  is  not  going  to  publish  me 
for  over  two  months  I  fear." 


12 THE  BRICK  ROW  BOOK  SHOP,  INC. 

Sir  Leslie  Stephen  was  at  this  time  editor  of  The  Cornhill  Magazine. 
Stevenson's  contribution,  above  referred  to,  appeared  as  he  expected 
in  the  August  issue, — his  fourth  magazine  article;  it  was  entitled, 
"Victor  Hugo's  Romances"  and  was  reprinted  in  "Familiar  Studies 
of  Men  and  Books."  He  himself  came  to  believe  that  it  marks 
the  beginning  of  his  command  of  style 175  •^'^ 


A  group  of  four  letters  about  his  three-week  trip  to  the 
Barhizon  or  Fontainebleau  region  in  France,  afterwards 
so  much  endeared  to  him.  His  object  was,  of  course , 
the  improvement  of  his  health. 

24.  Savile  Club,  London  [1875,  March  (?)] — 4  pp., 
signed  "Your  affectionate  Prodigal,"  and  then  again 
after  a  postscript,  R.  L.  S.     Unpublished. 

Holograph  letter  to  his  Mother,  on  the  eve  of  a 
brief  trip  to  Barbizon  with  his  artist-cousin,  R.  A.  M. 
Stevenson,  mentioning  Andrew  Lang,  Leslie  Stephen, 
and  the  "Daily  Review." 

"We're  off  to  Barbizon — for  some  more  health  and  forest  and 

ozone.   ...  I  wish  you  hadn't  sent  me  this  Daily  Review.     I 

had  to  make  a  violent  effort  to  throw  off  the  bile  I  conceived  from 

its  perusal.     I  wish  the  filthy  print  were  in — well,  let's  say  the 

bankruptcy  court.  .  .  O!  do  take  some  rum  out  to  Swanston.     I 

have  become  so  fond  of  milk  I  drink  it  noon  and  night — although 

it  used  to  put  me — in  such  a  beastly  plight." 

The  penmanship,  the  wording,  and  the  postscript's  tenor  all  seem 

to  show  that  this  missive  was  composed  while  Stevenson  was  in  a 

stiive  of  genial  exhilaration  after  a  convivial  session  at  his  Club.     A 

very  pleasantly  amusing  letter 1 25  .OO 


25.  Cafe  du  Senat,  Pres  de  Luxembourg  [Paris, 
March  29,  1875.] — 2  pp.,  signed  R.  L.  Stevenson. 
Unpublished. 

Holograph  letter  to  his  Mother,  telling  of  his  arrival 
in  Paris,  criticizing  his  cousin  R.  A.  M.  Stevenson's 
painting,  and  mentioning  Sindey  Colvin's  illness. 

"I  have  been  so  tired  with  my  journey  that  I  have  spent  the 
most  part  of  my  time  in  Paris  in  a  gross  slumber.  .  .   .  Bob  has 
certainly  made  considerable  progress;  the  fellows  round  here  seem 
to  think  a  good  deal  of  his  work.     It  will  always  be  ugly,  I  think; 
but  there  is  something  strange  and  original  about  it.   .   .   .  If  you 
should  feel  inclined  to  send  me  a  five  pound  note.   ...  I  have 
done  nothing  with  my  head  except  these  unintelligent  letters  to 
you.   .   .   .  Letter  very  cheeky." 
He  so  rigidly  excluded  valetudinarian  references  from  his  published 
works  that  letters  about  his  health  have  a  special  interest  and  im- 
portance.    This  is  a  good  example 1 5^ -^^ 


THE  BRICK  ROW  BOOK  SHOP,  INC. 13 


26.  Marlotte  [April  7,   1875.] — 2  pp.,  signed  with 
initials. 

Holograph  letter  to  his  Mother.     Unpublished. 

*"I  have  ridden  over  here  from  Barbizon  to-day.   ...  I  am 
in  love  with  the  forest  and  the  life  at  Barbizon" lOO  .OO 

27.  Paris  [April  19,  1875,] — i  page,  signed  R.  L. 
Stevenson.     Unpublished. 

Holograph  note  to  his  Mother,  on  the  eve  of  his 
return  to  England  after  his  Barbizon  trip. 

"I  cross  tonight.     I  am  now  a  pauper  once  more.     I  have  had 

such  a  nice  time  and  am  very  well,  but  more  unintelligent  than 

ever!  was  before,  I  think.   .   .   .  Please  excuse  my  better  writing  or 

rather  my  not  better  writing." 

This  letter  winds  up  the  episode  very  pleasantly  on  a  characteristic 

note 100  .00 

28.  17  Heriot  Row,  Edinburgh  [Aug.  12,  1876.] — 
3  pp.,  signed  R.  L.  S.     Unpublished. 

Holograph  letter  to  his  Mother,  about  a  visit  to 
some  friends. 

"My  visit  to  Jenkin's  was  in  some  sense  disastrous;  when  they 
were  modestly  apologizing,  the  best  I  could  find  to  say  was  that  the 
effects  of  real  water  had  been  entirely  disregardless  of  expense. 
...  I  had  some  capital,  talks  as  you  may  imagine;  capital  talks 
...  So  much  for  the  family  vanity." 
This  refers  to  Fleming  Jenkin,  Stevenson's  instructor  in  Enginaer- 
ing  at  Edinburgh  University  and  his  close  personal  friend 185  .OO 

29.  Rue    Donay    [Paris,    Jan.    10,    1877.] — 3    pp., 
signed  Robert  Louis  Stevenson.     Unpublished. 

Holograph  letter  to  his  Mother,  on  his  way  back 
from  the  canoe  trip  described  in  "An  Inland  Voyage." 
"I  believe  I  am  growing  fat  and  rosy;  certainly  if  warmth,  calm 
and  idleness  should  fatten  and  roseate,  I  am  enjoying  them  all. 
The  worst  of  it  is  my  life  is  so  very  empty,  that  I  have  nothing  to 
write  of.   ...  I  dine  every  day  in  a  Cremerie  with  a  party  of 
Americans,  one  Irishman  and  sometimes  an  English  lady.   .   .  . 
Bob  is  in  a  great  quandary  about  my  father's  picture." 
Far  from  having  "nothing  to  write  of,"  he  tells  "rather  a  pitiful 
story"  of  the  English  lady's  failure  in  the  study  of  art,  and  then  dis- 
cusses   with    interesting    detail    his    cousin's   difficulty    in    family 
portraiture 

30.  Maison    Lavenne.     Paris    [Oct.    10,    1877.] — 3 
pp.,  signed  Robert  Louis  Stevenson.     Unpublished. 

Holograph    letter    to    his    Father,    describing    the 
French  elections. 


200.00 


14 THE  BRICK  ROW  BOOK  SHOP,  INC. 

".   .   .  it's  not  so  easy  to  write  with  a  bad  eye;  for  my  eye  still 

continues  to  be  a  little  bit  of  a  nuisance.     I  walk  about  Paris 

and  can  neither  read  nor  write;  but  the  bustle  in  the  street  amuses 

vastly.   .   .   .  The  elections  are  coming  on  and  Paris  is  full  of  the 

strangest     manifestoes.   .   .   .  Above     all,     these     troops     being 

marched  in  with  the  flag  of  the  republic,  to  intimidate  republicans, 

seems  to  me  a  curious  sign  of  the  time." 

His  third  trip  to  France  this  year.     In  this  year  and  month  his 

first  published  short-story,  "A  Lodging  for  the  Night,"  appeared  in 

the  "The  Temple  Bar"  magazine 150  .OO 


31.  [Paris,  Oct.  15,  1877.] — 2  pp.,  signed  Robert 
Louis   Stevenson.     Unpublished. 

Holograph  letter  to  his  Father  and  Mother,  con- 
tinuing his  account  of  the  momentous  French  election 
which  defeated  the  monarchist  reaction. 

".   .   .  in  came  Mr.  Dick's  letter  containing  25  quid  (of  which 

I  gratefully  hereby  acknowledge  receipt).   .   .   .  On  Saturday,  the 

Gaulois  had  an  article  telling  the  people  to  go  from  the  polling 

booth  to  the  barricades.   ...  [A  manifesto)  of  the  President's 

made  me  so  mad  that  I  could  have  broken  his  head.   ...  It  was 

written,  I  firmly  believe,  with  the  intention  of  driving  on  the 

republicans  to  extremities." 

Aside  from  the  historical  interest,  this  letter  harps  upon  the  point 

so  prominent  in  his  correspondence,  and  so  influential  in  moulding  his 

habits,  the  poverty  imposed  on  him  by  an  insufllicient  allowance  from 

home 1 50 . 00 


32.  Savile  Club  [London,  January,  1878.] — 3  pp., 
signed  R.  L.  S.     Unpublished. 

Holograph  letter  to  his  Mother  about  the  publica- 
tion of  his  first-book,  and  about  his  winning  the 
critical  appreciation  of  Leslie  Stephen,  Heuffer,  and 
others. 

"Kegan  Paul  won't  let  me  go  today  as  I  had  meant.     He  is 
going  to  produce  a  book  of  mine,  and  I  have  been  all  day  at  work 
with  him  on  details.     I  never  had  so  many  compliments  as  yester- 
day.  ...  A  story  of  people  sitting  till  four  in  the  morning  after 
a  ball  over  "Will  o'  the    Mill,'  and  reading  it  over  again  the  first 
thing  at  breakfast.   .   .   .  Evoe!   trumpets." 
An   extraordinarily   interesting  letter,   recording  the   publisher's 
acceptance  of  his   first   book   ("An   Inland   Voyage"),   the   public's 
reception  of  his  second  short-story  (which  appeared  in  the  "Cornhill" 
for  this  month),  and  the  critic's  first  general  recognition  of  his  work.  .    225  .OO 


33.  [Paris,  Feb.  12,  1878.] — i  page,  signed  R.  L.  S. 
Unpublished. 


THE  BRICK  ROW  BOOK  SHOP,  INC. 15 

Holograph   letter  to  his   Mother,   referring  to  his 
health  and  his  proof-reading. 

"I  did  not  tell  you  that  in  my  first  interview  (indeed  I  did  not 
know  it  myself)  the  doctor  was  within  an  ace  of  planking  rne  off 
to  the  south.  ...  128  pages  of  my  book  corrected.  See  if  it's 
announced  won't  you.?  Look  in  advertisements  of  Saturday  and 
Athenaeum  and  siclike." 
Describes  momentous  events:  the  proof-reading  and  announcement 
of  Stevenson's  first  book,  "An  Inland  Voyage" I25    OO 


34.  [Paris,  July  or  August,  1878.] — 2  pp.,  signed 
Robert  Louis  Stevenson.     Unpublished. 

Holograph  letter  to  his  Mother,  about  his  literary 
work. 

"I  rise  before  six,  get  to  work  at  seven  and  work  until  eleven, 

when  I  breakfast:  Thence  to  about  3,  I  walk  or  saunter  around: 

from  3  to  5  or  6,  work  again;  6,  dinner;  and  to  bed  before  nine. 

How's  that  for  health  and  industry.     I  am  getting  on  fast  with 

Edinburgh.  ...  I  am  reading  up  the  Carnisards  and  shall  go  a 

walk  in  the  scene  of  their  wars,  the  Hautes  Cevennes.   ...  It  is  a 

good   thing  I  can  work,  or  I  should  cut  my  stick  entirely,   I 

believe." 

Interesting  detailed  schedule  of  his  working  day,  with  references  to 

his  second  book,  "Edinburgh:  Picturesque  Notes,"  and  the  scene  of 

his  third,  "Travels  with  a  Donkey  in  the  Cfevennes." 125  .OO 


35.  Cernay  la  Ville  [France,  Oct.  18,  1878.]—! 
page,  signed  R.  L.  S.     Unpublished. 

Holograph  note  to  his  Mother,  about  his  health 
and  his  work. 

"The  Edinburgh  book  is  about  through  the  press.  I  hope  you 
will  like  what  I  say  about  Swanston.  The  Arabian  Nights  finish 
this  week,  I  believe,  and  I  have  been  written  to  for  more  short 
stories." 

Interesting  signs  of  his  turning  from  essay  writing  to  fiction.  "The 
Edinburgh  book"  is  his  second  published  volume,  "Edinburgh: 
Picturesque  Notes."  "The  [New]  Arabian  Nights"  came  to  a  close 
in  the  "London  Magazine"  for  Oct.  26,  and  were  reprinted  in  book 
form  in  1882.  The  "more  short  stories"  were  of  course  forthcoming, 
and  include  "Providence  and  the  Guitar,"  "The  Story  of  A  Lie," 
etc 85    00 


36.  Earl's  Terrace,  London  [Oct.  30,  1878.] — 2  pp., 
signed  Robert  Louis  Stevenson.     Unpublished. 

Holograph  letter  to  his  Mother,  full  of  interesting 
details  about  his  strenuous  work. 


16 THE  BRTCK  ROW  BOOK  SHOP,  INC. 


"I  am  unofficially  in  London  only  known  to  3  or  4,  for  purposes 

of  work,  and  I  do  not  go  near  the  Club.    I  am  seeing  Edin^  through 

the    press   and    generally   doing   and    preparing   much    business. 

Seeley  wants  another  series  from  me;  I  am  mining  the  Pall-Mall  for 

a  great  scheme;  a  play  is  about  half  written,  which  is  to  be  tried 

on  Irving;  two  novels  in  the  wind;  and  another  short  story  running 

in  London.   ...  It  was  well  I  wrote  my  Idler  when  I  did;  for  I 

am  now  the  busiest  gent  in  Xendom.  .  .   .  Let  no  one  know  I  am 

here." 

The  various  works  herein  referred  to  are:  "Edinburgh:  Picturesque 

Notes;"  "Deacon  Brodie;"  "Treasure  Island.?";  "Leon  Berthelini's 

Guitar."     Sidney  Colvin  says  of  1878:  "This  was  to  Stevenson  a  year 

of  great  and  various  productiveness" 150  -OO 


37.  Box  Hill,  Dorking,  Surrey  [May  12,  1879.] — 
2  pp.,  signed  R.  L.  S.     Unpublished. 

Holograph  letter  to  his  Mother,  very  early  in  his 
friendship  with  George  Meredith. 

"I  am  here  alone  with  Meredith;  but  Mrs.  M.  and  Marietta 

arrive  today  at  %  past  one.     I  shall  stay  here  till  Friday.   .   .   . 

The  book  is  out.     I  have  given  away  all  my  copies  and  bought 

£2  worth  besides." 

The  friendship  with  Meredith,  whom  he  had  long  admired,  must 

have  helped  Stevenson  greatly  in  maintaining  the  highest  artistic 

standards.     "The  book"  referred  to  is  "Travels  with  a  Donkey". . . .     I25.OO 


38.  Cernay  la  Ville,  France  [June,  1879.] — ^  P^ge, 
signed  R.  L.  S.     Unpublished. 

Holograph  letter  to  his  Father,  from  his  favorite 
haunt  in  the  Seine  et  Oise  district  of  France, — his 
local  habitation  being  "Chez  Leopold." 

"Thanks  for  the  money,  and  your  letter.     I  am  glad  you  like  the 

book  so  well;  I  am  once  more  quite  the  dyspeptic  and  must  fall  back 

upon  a  diet.     It  is  annoying  when  you  want  to  work.     The 

weather  still  keeps  wonderfully  bad.  .  .  .  How  I  am  to  make  up 

my  arrears  of  work,  I  cannot  think." 

"The  book"  here  referred  to  was  "Travels  with  a  Donkey,"  so  the 

letter  is  a  very  desirable  one.     The  reference  to  money  matters,  too, 

is  interesting,  as  reminding  us  how  long  it  was  before  Stevenson  was 

able  to  support  himself  by  his  pen lOO  .OO 

39.  Sairle  Club,  London  [July,  1879.] — 3  pp., 
signed  Robert  Louis  Stevenson.     Unpublished. 

Holograph  letter  to  his  Mother,  on  the  circulation 
of  his  books.     Fine  literary  letter. 

"Rec'd  coins  and  clo'  .  .  .  My  new  book  has  sold  450 — 60 
last  week.  The  Ind.  V.  has  only  sold  485  altogether.  They  hope 
to  have  a  2nd  edition  of  the  donkey.  Trench  (Paul's  pardner) 
told  me  it  was  the  only  book  of  theirs  that  was  selling  at  all;  for 


THE  BRICK  ROW  BOOK  SHOP,  INC. 17 


the  depression  in  the  book  trade  is  horrid.     A  German  is  going  to 

traduce  the  Donkey.      He  offered  me  half  the  dibbs  he  got.   .   .   . 

N.  B.     Robertson  Smith  is  great  fun." 

Statistics  about  the  popularity  of  "Stevenson's  early  books  are 

doubly  interesting  when  combined  with  the  opening  acknowledgment 

of  his  dependence  upon  support  from  home.     W.  Robertson  Smith, 

the  eminent  exponent  of  liberal  theology,  was  then  undergoing  trial 

for  heresy   by  the   Scottish   Free   Church.     The  reference  in   this 

letter  is  a  valuable  evidence  of  Stevenson's  religious  opmions,  and 

must  have  been  gall  and  wormwood  to  his  Father 3oO  .OO 


A  group  of  Seven  Letters  and  Items  connected  with  his 
two  winters  at  Davos,  in  Switzerland,  where  his  lung- 
trouble  was  temporarily  arrested. 

40.  On  the  way  to  Davos  [Nov.  5,  1880.] — i  large 
page,  signed  R.  L.  S.     Unpublished. 

Holograph  letter  to  his  parents,  describing  the  Alps 
and  his  trip. 

"The  Alps  are  all  there;  they  beat  everything  to  smash.     This 

place  and  a  great  part  of  the  way  up  yesterday  was  NO  END.   .   . 

It  has  snowed  last  night  on  both  sides  of  the  valley,  and  the  stone 

hills  are  whiter,  and  white  lower  down,  than  when  we  went  to  bed. 

.  .  .  We  are  taking  charge  of  some  extraordinary  people,  up  to 

Davos." 

This  letter  appropriately  begins  the  Davos  group  by  recording  his 

first  approach  to  this  health  resort.     An  excellent  brief  specimen  of 

his  familiar  correspondence lOO  -OO 


41.  Davos  [Nov.  21,  1880.] — I  page,  signed  R.  L.  S. 
Unpublished. 

Holograph  letter  to  his  parents  about  his  literary 
work  and  a  pitiful  consumptive  case.  The  last  leaf, 
only,  is  preserved. 

"I  have  got  Lord  Mahon  to  read,  to  give  me  patience  till  my 
box  turns  up,  and  rest  me  from  unmitigated  Pepys.  ...  I 
am  going  out  to  find  some  flowers  if  I  can,  for  that  poor  dying  Miss 
Scott.  This  ...  is  her  nineteenth  birthday.  God  help  us! 
She  had  longed  to  live  for  it.  .  .  .  It  is  from  Mrs.  Symonds  I 
hope  to  get  them.  It  was  Fanny's  idea — the  flowers.  ...  If 
she  lived  for  the  day,  as  she  so  longed,  it  seemed  intolerable  it 
should  not  be  recognized  by  others." 

A  most  appealing  letter,  with  incidental  mention  of  his  essay, 
"Samuel  Pepys,"  and  of  Mrs.  John  Addington  Symonds.  Margot 
Asquith's  suppressed  comments  on  Mrs.  Symonds'  unfavorable  view 
of  the  Stevensons  give  additional  point  to  this  letter 5^  ■^*-* 


18 THE  BRICK  ROW  BOOK  SHOP,  INC. 

42.  Davos  [Dec.  12,  1880.] — 3  pp.,  signed  R.  L.  S. 
In  part,  unpublished. 

Holograph  letter  to  his  Father,  giving  the  outline  of 
a  projected  Highland  History,  with  full  notes  about 
his  reading. 

"Here  is  the  scheme  as  well  as  I  can  foresee.  I  begin  the 
book  immediately  after  the  '15,  as  then  began  the  attempt  to 
suppress  the  Highlands.   .   .  . 

"III.     Literature  here  intervenes, 
"(i)     The  Ossianic  controversy. 
"(2)     Boswell  and  Johnson. 
"(3)     Mrs.  Grant  of  Laggan.   .   .  . 

"My  essays  are  going  thro'  the  press  and  should  be  out  in  Jan. 
or  Feb.   .  .  .  You  have  found  out  nothing  about  that  minister's 
reports  I  mentioned;  I  hope  greatly  in  them.   .  .   .  Many,  many 
thanks   for  all  your  trouble.     And,   O!   hurry  up.     I   pine.     I 
languish.     Fanny  ill  tonight  and  gone  to  bed.     Pen-nibs,  in  the 
box,  please." 
This  highland  History  was  one  of  the  many  projects  left  unaccom- 
plished.    One  wonders  how  far  the  stern  Calvinist  Father's  approval 
of  the  son's  romances  may  have  been  responsible  for  this  worthy 
attempt  at  orthodxy.     The  "Essays"  referred  to  were  "Virginibus 
Puerisque" 200  .OO 


43.  St.  Germain  [May  i,  1881.] — 2  pp.,  signed 
R.  L.  S.     Published. 

Holograph  letter  to  his  parents,  about  his  health 
and  travels. 

"A  week  in  Paris  reduced  me  to  the  limpness  and  lack  of  appe- 
tite peculiar  to  a  kid-glove;  and  gave  Fanny  a  jumping  sore  throat. 
It's  my  belief  there  is  death  in  the  kettle,  there;  a  pestilence  or  the 
like.  We  came  out  here  .  .  .  find  the  place  a  bed  of  lilacs  and 
nightingales  (ist  time  I  ever  heard  one)  and  also  of  a  bird  called 
thepiasseur,  cheerfullest  of  sylvan  creatures,  an  ideal  comic  opera 
in  itself." 

Notes  of  a  stop-over  in  Paris  and  environs  on  the  way  back  to 
Scotland  after  the  first  winter  at  Davos.  The  "bill  of  health"  is  far 
from  satisfactory  for  himself  or  his  wife 175  -^^ 


44.  Davos  [Dec.  13,  1881.] — 2  pp.,  signed  "Robert 
Louis  Stevenson:  His  autograph  price  2d  coloured 
and  id  plain."  Unpublished.  His  Essay,  with  this 
title,  "A  Penny  Plain  and  Twopence  Coloured,"  was 
not  published  till  April,  1884.  The  present  reference 
shows  how  continuously  "Skeltdom"  was  in  his 
mind. 


THE  BRICK  ROW  BOOK  SHOP,  INC. 19 

Holograph  letter  to  his  Mother,  shortly  after  the 
beginning  of  his  second  winter  in  Davos.  References 
to  his  wife  and  stepson. 

"I  would  send  no  books  at  all.     If  I  get  the  Hazlitt,  I  shall  have 

to  stick  to  that.     Certainly  there  is  no  need  for  your  coming  at  all. 

If  Fanny  gets  better,  all  will  go  right.     If  she  doesn't  ...  I  only 

got  £20  for  Virg.  Puer.     I  could  take  Paul  by  the  beard  and  knock 

his  head  against  the  wall." 

The  life  of  Hazlitt  here  referred  to  was  another  unfulfilled  project. 

Kegan  Paul's  small    price    for  "Virginibus  Puerisque"  was  perhaps 

justified  by  the  slow  sale  of  the  book:  this  first  edition,  issued  in 

1881,  was  remaindered  in  1884  and  not  exhausted  till  1887. 

The  whimsical  addition  to  the  full  signature  makes  this  one  of 
the  most  desirable  Stevenson  autographs  that  can  be  imagined. 

Included  is  a  fine  copy  of  HoUyer's  engraved  portrait  of  Stevenson, 
half-length,  full-face,  seated  at  his  desk,  pen  in  hand,  with  facsimile 
of  his  signature 3*^0   OO 

45.  Davos  [March,  1882.] — i  page,  signed  "Robert 
Louis  Stevenson  Esquire,"  fantastically  disarranged. 
Unpublished. 

Holograph  letter  to  his  Father  or  Mother,  in  highly 
humorous  vein.  The  last  page  only  has  been  pre- 
served. 

"Uncle  John,  taking  notice  of  my  not  having  dated  mine,  and 
all  as  precise,  military  and  like  himself  as  if  nothing  had  happened. 
.  .  .  Not  a  word  about  my  woodcuts — well  .  .  . 
"O,  I  dote  on  Cramond,  I  always  have  .   .  . 
"Dote,  dote  on  Cramond  ... 
"O,  I  dote  on  Cramond  .   .  . 
"Always  did." 
It  is  difficult  to  decide  whether  Cramond  is  the  nick-name  of  his 
cousin  Lewis,  or  the  name  of  the  district  near  Edinburgh  that  was 
always  so  dear  to  him.     His  unique  and  absurd  flourish  on  the  subject 
is  equally  delightful  in  either  case 4^  .00 


46.  Davos  [188 1  (?).] — Two  fragmentary  con- 
clusions of  letters  on  half  sheets,  signed  R.  L.  S. 
Unpublished. 

Also  two  letter-heads  of  the  Printing  Office  which 
he  conducted  with  his  stepson. 

(a)  A  rather  tragic  fragment  of  a  letter  to  his  Father  or  Mother 
— Holograph.  Initialed.  ".  .  .  had  not  happened.  May  God 
grant  all  may  go  well.     But  I  am  sore  put  to  it." 1 5  -OO 


(b)  A  list  of  things  wanted,  addressed  to  his  Father  or  Mother 
Holograph.     Initialed: 


20 THE  BRICK  ROW  BOOK  SHOP,  INC. 


"(5)     Brown's  History  of  the  Highland  clans. 

"(6)     Grant  'On  the  Gael.' 

"(7)     MY  WIFE. 

"(8)     Misc.  of  Spalding  Society. 

"(9)     Lockhart  Papers. 

"(10)  MY  WIFE." 12.00 

(c)  Letter-head: 

Davos 

PRINTING  OFFICE 

Managed  by 

SAMUEL  LLOYD  OSBOUREN  &  CO. 

The  Chalet 7.50 

(d)  Another  similar  letter-head,  written  all  over,  on  both 
sides,  not  in  Stevenson's  hand,  with  fragmentary  details  of  his 

pet  skye-terrier,  Walter,  or  Woggs I O  .  OO 

47.   [Probably    1883.] — 2    half-sheets,    each    signed 
R.  L.  S.     Unpublished. 

Holograph  conclusions  of  two  letters  to  his  Father. 

"There  is  another  encourager  for  you;  hold  on,  it's  only  a  year, 
or  two;  and  you  will  be  out  of  the  wood  and  as  chipper  as  a 
sprug. 

"Please  let  us  hear  your  views  and  purposes,  and  if  possible  let 
us  have  the  light  (too  often  clouded)  of  your  countenance." 25  .OO 


48.  Hotel  Petit  Louvre,  Marseille  [France  Jan., 
1883.] — 3  pp.,  signed  R.  L.  S.     Unpublished. 

Holograph  letter  to  his  parents,  chiefly  about  his 
health.  Southern  France  proved  to  be  a  poor  ex- 
change for  Davos. 

"St.  Marcel  is  a  kind  of  goblin-haunted  marsh,  filled  after  dark 
with  corpse  lights;  they  have  a  fever  there,  the  bells  ring  almost 
daily  for  the  dead,  and  gruesomest  of  all,  four  or  five  .  .  .  women 
are  losing  their  roses  from  some  sort  of  .  .  .  leprosy.  O,  it's  a 
deadhouse,  a  shambles,  a  catacomb!  And  yet  so  pretty  .  .  . 
Will  you  please  send  me  some  more  money.  .  .  .  Certainly  I  have 
no  notion  of  trying  to  come  back  to  Scotland  for  a  round  year 
anyway.  The  white  cliffs  of  Albion  shall  not  see  me.  I  am  sick 
of  relapsing." 

Plans  were  being  made  for  escape  to  Nice  and  Hyeres,  where  he 
spent  what  he  considered  some  of  the  happiest  months  of  his  life. 
This  letter  is  unusually  indicative  of  his  physical  and  financial 
difficulties I25  .OO 

49.  Hotel  de  rUnivers,  Lyon  Aug.  30,   1883. — 2 
pp.,  signed  R.  L.  S.     Unpublished. 

Holograph  letter  to  his  parents,  about  "Treasure 


THE  BRICK  ROW  BOOK  SHOP,  INC. 21 

Island"   and   the  happy,  healthy  period   in   his  long 
battle  with  his  lungs. 

"I  have  been  working  very  hard  indeed  and  have  enjoyed  the 

most  splendid  health:  I  have  not  been  so  well  for  ever  so  long, 

really  enjoying  health.  ...  I  have  just  sent  ofF  the  title  sheet  of 

T.  l'^,  which  only  waits  the  map:  marche-t-elle?" 

"Treasure  Island"  (for  which  he  received  £ioo)  was  the  first  of  his 

books  to  bring  him  real  popularity  and  fame,  and  thereafter  a  more 

adequate  return  for  his  literary  labors 1 65  .OO 


Two  good  letters  from  the  Bournemouth  period,  where 
for  three  years  he  tried  to  find  health  in  English  sur- 
roundings. 

50.  B.  T.,  B.  P.,  B.,  [Bonallie  Towers,  Branksome 
Park,  Bournemouth]  29th  Jan.,  1885. — 3  pp.,  signed 
R.  L.  S.     Unpublished. 

Holograph  letter  to  his  Father. 

"Cheque  for  £140  received:  many  thanks.     It  seems  we  have 
carried  Skerryvore  from  the  very  teeth  of  a  large  crowd  who  were 
waiting  for  the  sale.   .   .   .    The  name  (Skerryvore)  is  an  admirable 
inspiration  and  I  think  will  please  Aunt  Alan.     I  fear  I  have  no 
news;  I  am  cruel  busy  with  all  sorts  of  affairs  of  every  description, 
and  two  [sic]  few  hours  in  the  day.     I  hear  Metammeh  is  taken 
which  is  a  comfort:  now  to  have  a  dynamiter  lynched,  and  all 
would  be  for  the  best  in  the  best  of  possible  worlds." 
"Skerryvore"  was  the  name  given,  in  memory  of  his  Uncle  Alan's 
great  lighthouse  of  that  name,  to  the  house  and  garden  presented  by 
his  Father  as  a  special  gift  to  Stevenson's  wife.     Here  Stevenson, 
though  largely  confined  to  his  bed  and  even  unable  to  speak,  yet 
accomplished  a  great  deal  of  very  important  literary  work  (Admiral 
Guinea,  Beau  Austin,  Prince  Otto,  Child's  Garden  of  Verse,  More 
New  Arabian  Nights,  Kidnapped,  Jekyll   and   Hyde,   Underwoods, 
etc.).     The  present  letter  closes  with  references  to  his  interest  in  na- 
tional affairs,  in  the  Soudan  and  Ireland.  "More  New  Arabian  Nights" 
was  designed  "to  make  dynamite  ridiculous  if  he  could  not  make  it 
horrible" 'SO- OO 

51.  Skerryvore,  Bournemouth  [Sept.  ist,  1886.] — 
2  pp.,  signed  R.  L.  S.     Unpublished. 

Holograph  letter  to  his  parents  about  his  memoir 
of  his  old  friend.  Professor  Fleeming  Jenkin,  just 
deceased,  some  critical  notices  about  his  own  work, 
and  his  meeting  with  Aubrey  de  Vere. 

"I  have  been  a  little  out  of  sorts,  but  I  am  charmed  to  say  I 
am  getting  on  with  Jenkin.  ...  I  am  so  glad  you  found  the 
notices.  Did  Fanny  send  you  the  Athensum?  It  was  good 
indeed,  and  by  the  best  authority,  Theodore  Watts.  .  .  .  Aubrey 
de  Vere  the  poet  has  been  to  see  me:  in  a  front  view,  he  is  simply 
my  father!  ...  I  was  quite  moved  to  see  him." 


22 THE  BRICK  ROW  BOOK  SHOP,  INC. 

The  references  to  Watts  Dunton  and  de  Vere  and  the  Jenkin 
memoir  (published  in  1887),  give  this  letter  unusual  association 
interest 75  -^^ 

52,  [Undated.] — Five    autograph    initialed    signa- 
tures, cut  from  letters. 

R  L  S 1 .00 

Yours  R.L.S 2. 00 

Yrs  ever,  R.  L.  S 2  .OO 

Your  afFt.  son  R.  L.  S.  (in  pencil) 2  .  50 

I  hope  I  am  grateful.     Ever  your  afft.  son  R.  L.  S.  (with  six 
fragmentary  holograph  lines  on  reverse) 3*5'-' 


LETTERS  AND  ARTICLES  TO  OR  ABOUT 
STEVENSON 

53.  From  George  Meredith.  5  pp.,  dictated  to 
Mrs.  Meredith,  signed  in  full  George  Meredith.  Box 
Hill,  Surrey,  Jan.  25,  1894.  The  last  year  of  Steven- 
son's life. 

"My  dear  Louis,  I  tried  to  write  to  you  when  your  letter  came. 
.  .  .  Here,  as  all  who  love  you,  I  .  .  .  rejoice  to  see,  your  name 
is  the  name  most  commonly  printed  in  the  newspapers,  as  relating 
to  the  small  English  world  of  Letters,  I  mean.  I  don't  remember, 
in  the  whole  course  of  my  literary  life  any  name  in  England  that 
has  been  treated  so  affectionately,  as  well  as  respectfully.  .  .  . 
Yours  ever  lovingly." 
A  magnificent  literary  letter,  mentioning  also  Sidney  Colvin,  W.  E. 
Henley,  Lloyd  Osbourne,  and  several  of  his  own  works 15^-  *-"-' 


54.  Letter  from  George  Meredith,  wholly  in  his 
own  hand.  3  pp.,  note  paper,  written  at  Box  Hill, 
Dorking,  introducing  Sidney  Lysaght. 

"The  bearer  of  this,  Mr.  Sidney  Lysaght,  is  one  of  the  now  many 

who  appreciate  you  and  wish  to  know  you  more  closely.     He  is  a 

young  writer  of  promise,  with  a  genuine  respect  for  those  within 

the  light  ahead  of  him.   .  .   .  Your  loving  George  Meredith.  .   .  . 

Supposing  this  piece  of  paper  to  reach  you — how  I  envy  it! — 

Catriona  is  giving  me  great  pleasure." 

A  finely  characteristic  note,  with  interesting  literary  references. 

That  "this  piece  of  paper"  did  reach  Stevenson  in  Vailima,  Samoa, 

we  know  from  Stevenson's  letter  to  William  Archer,  March  27,  1894 

[Colvin  IV,  292]:  "We  have  just  now  a  curious  breath  from  Europe. 

A  young  fellow  just  beginning  letters,  and  no  fool,  turned  up  here  with 

a  letter  of  introduction  in  the  well-known  blue  ink  and  decorative 

hieroglyphs  of  George  Meredith.     His  name  may  be  known  to  you. 

It  is  Sidney  Lvsaght.     He  is  staying  with  us  but  a  day  or  two,"  etc. 

(See  also  Colvin  IV,  299) 1 25  .  OO 


THE  BRICK  ROW  BOOK  SHOP,  INC. 23 

55.  Richard  Watson  Gilder's  account  (in  his  auto- 
graph throughout,  and  signed  by  his  initials)  of  the 
famous  rebuff  which  Stevenson  received  when  he 
interviewed  a  certain  New  York  publisher,  on  his 
first  arrival  in  America,  as  described  in  "The  Amateur 
Emigrant."  4  pp.,  with  numerous  erasures  and 
corrections,  showing  that  it  is  the  original  draft. 

"This  is  not  the  visit  (referred  to  by  Mr.  Gosse)  to  the  office  of 
the  old  Scribner's,  nor  The  Century, — on  the  upper  floor  of  743 
Broadway.     What  happened  there  the  present  writer  once  tried 
to  find  out  from  Stevenson  himself.     He  seems  to  have  appeared 
at  a  small  window  in  the  business  department  and  asked  a  clerk 
whether    he    might    write    for    the    magazine.     He    brought    no 
credentials  nor  any  MSS.   .   .   .  Doubtless  The  Angel  Gabriel  may 
any  day  suffer  the  same  fate  at  any  little  window  of  any  pub- 
lishers, and  no  one  to  blame.   .   ." 
Important  documentary  evidence  in  this  interesting  case.    Gilder 
establishes  a  good  alibi  for  himself  and  the  magazine  of  which  he  was 
editor 3  5  •  00 


ORIGINAL  MSS.  OF  STEVENSON'S 
WORKS,  IN  PROSE  AND  VERSE 

56.  Two  alternative  outlined  plans  for  the  Chapters 
of  "Catriona,"  with  many  variations  from  the  order 
and  form  finally  adopted.  Chapter  III,  "Pilrig," 
is  considerably  elaborated  in  an  appended  afterthought; 
in  the  second  version  24  chapters  are  listed,  with  no 
division  into  two  parts.  Probably  written  in  1891  or 
1892. 

Highly  interesting  as  showing  Stevenson's  method  of 
planning  a  book 125  .00 


57.  Original  holograph  MS.  of  Chapter  XIX  and 
half  of  Chapter  XX  of  "The  Wrecker,"  in  all,  23 
folio  pages,  with  many  corrections,  all  in  Stevenson's 
hand.     Written  about  1891. 

His  stepson,  Lloyd  Osbourne,  collaborated  with 
Stevenson  in  planning  and  executing  this  book;  but 
the  older  hand  rewrote  and  revised  everywhere  freely, 
and  is  evidently  alone  responsible  for  these  23  pages. 


24 THE  BRICK  ROW  BOOK  SHOP,  INC. 

The  identical  agreement  with  the  published  version, 
the  inky  finger-marks,  and  the  unmistakable  guides 
for  the  press,  prove  that  these  were  the  actual  leaves 
used  by  the  first  printers  in  setting  up  type  for  the 
volume. 

A  most  unusual  and  important,  as  well  as  substantial 
Stevenson  MS.,  "The  Wrecker"  being  one  of  his 
major  works 300 . oo 


58.  Original  holograph  MS.  of  a  short  story, 
"Edwin:  A  Story  of  Saxon  Times,"  written  entirely 
in  Samoan.  4  pp.,  folio.  About  1891.  The  title 
in  Samoan  is  "O  le  Tala  ia  Eatuine  o  Teira."  Two 
of  the  leaves  present  the  appearance  of  a  corrected 
exercise;  the  other  two  are  fair  copy,  with  only  slight 
emendations. 

Stevenson  MSS.  in  the  Samoan  language  are 
exceedingly  rare,  as  he  learned  the  tongue  only  in  the 
last  few  years  of  his  life.  He  studied  it  with  an 
English    missionary 200  ,  00 


59.  One  folio  page  of  original  MS.,  with  corrections, 
all  in  Stevenson's  hand,  headed  "XXV.  A  Pearl  Is- 
land Penrhyn."  At  the  head  of  the  page  appears  the 
following  inscription  in  pencil:  "Rob't  Louis  Steven- 
son MS.  From  the  collection  of  Richard  Harding 
Davis." 

In  Vol.  XIX  of  the  Scribner  Edition,  the  Editorial 
Note  explains  that  Stevenson  himself  desired  the  sup- 
pression of  this  material 50 .00 


60.  Autograph  Manuscript  of  "The  Young  Cheva- 
lier." Introductory  Episode  of  the  Wine  Seller's 
Wife,  with  two  pages  of  proposed  chapter  headings  and 
notes.     Together   18  pages,  folio. 

*Published  in  the  posthumous  collection.  "Lay 
Morals  and  Other  Papers,"  with  an  Editorial  Note  by 
Sidney  Colvin,  in  which  he  states  that  the  above  frag- 
ment was  written  at  the  suggestion  of  Andrew  Lang, 
and  that  Alan  Breck  and  the  Master  of  Ballantrae 
were  to  appear  on  the  scene  again.     Colvin  tells  at 


THE  BRICK  ROW  BOOK  SHOP,  INC. 25 

some  length  all  that  Lang  and  he  knew  of  the  author's 
plans  for  the  story. 

There  are  some  differences  between  the  manuscript 
and  the  printed  text 550.00 

60A.  Original  holograph  MS.  of  Chapters  XLV 
and  XLVI  of  an  unpublished  manuscript,  in  all,  12 
folio  pages,  with  corrections.  The  whole  is  in  Steven- 
son's hand.  Chapter  XLV,  entitled  "The  Lazaretto 
of  Today,"  describes  with  all  Stevenson's  vividness, 
life  on  the  leper  settlement  of  Kalaupapa.  Chapter 
XLVI  gives  a  detailed  account  of  his  trip  by  steamer 
and  horse  to  the  "marred  and  moribund"  Molokai.  A 
typical  Stevenson  manuscript  of  extraordinary  interest 
and  importance 750.00 

61.  Tentative  MS.  translations  of  Martial's  epi- 
grams on  Erotion  and  Nepos.  Unpublished,  inas- 
much as  they  differ  widely  from  the  version's  included 
in  Hellman's  "Hitherto  Unpublished  MSS.,"  Vol.  H. 
Two  pages  of  note-paper,  with  a  third  page  half- 
filled  with  operatic  and  musical  data. 

Stevenson's  tenderness  for  the  little  girl-slave 
Erotion,  who  died  in  early  childhood,  appears  in 
these  lines;  the  Nepos  piece  and  the  other  lines  on  a 
garden  all  turn  on  child-subjects  also. 

"Lo,  in  thy  green  enclosure  here 

Let  not  the  ugly  or  the  old  appear; 

.  .   .  but  with  leaping  tread 

The  schoolboy  and  the  golden  head 

Of  the  slim  filly  twelve  years  old, — 

Let  these  to  enter  and  to  steal  be  bold." 


100.00 


62.  Original  MS.  draft,  with  many  corrections, 
of  poem  beginning,  "I  have  been  young  and  am  old." 
The  poem  was  to  consist  of  three  8-line  stanzas, 
apparently;  but  there  are  33  lines  in  this  MS.,  owing 
to  the  number  of  lines  cancelled  and  re-written,  i  p., 
folio. 

A  tribute  to  his  wife,  ending: 

"The  Sun  and  moon  and  morning 

With  glory  I  recall; 
But  the  clasp  of  a  dusky  woman 
Outweighed  them  one  and  all." 


150.00 


26  THE  BRICK  ROW  BOOK  SHOP,  INC. 


MISCELLANEOUS 

63.  Three-line  quotation  and  reference,  in  Steven- 
son's hand  throughout.     Undated  and  unsigned. 

"In  the  Hebrew  tongue  I  confess  myself  ignorant,  but  have  (as 
God  knoweth)  fervent  thirst  to  have  some  entrance  therein" 1 5  -OO 

64.  A  demand  note  filled  in  and  signed  by  Steven- 
son.    Vailima,  May  19th,  1892. 

"May  19th  [189]  2 
"[Mr.]  H.  J.  Morris. 

"[Please  deliver  to  bearer: — ] 
"One  dollar  ($1.00)  gold. 
"[No.]ioii.  "R.L.STEVENSON."  7.50 

65.  Pencilled  sketches,  presumably  by  Stevenson, 
in  his  copy  of  Murray's  "The  Thistle:  A  dispassionate 
Examen  of  the  Prejudice  of  Englishmen  in  general 
to  the  Scotch  Nation"  (a  witty  and  audacious  pam- 
phlet, dated  1747).  A  leaf  design,  the  Scottish  Lion 
and  Stag,  and  the  motto,  "Nemo  me  impune,"  appear 

in  the  margins  and  on  a  blank  leaf. lo  .00 

66.  Stevenson's  copy  of  "A  Seasonable  Warning, 
or  the  Pope  and  King  of  France  unmasked,  1706." 
16  pp.,  unbound.  A  strong  plea  in  favor  of  the 
recently  established  union  between  England  and 
Scotland. 

Probably  part  of  his  preparation  for  writing  the 
history  of  the  Scottish  Highlands 10.00 

67.  Stevenson's  certificate  of  attendance  at  a 
Course  of  Lectures  on  "Medical  Jurisprudence  and 
Police"  in  the  University  of  Edinburgh  during  the 
Summer  Session  of  1873.  It  is  interesting  to  note 
that  he  was  absent  six  times  out  of  thirteen,  and 
therefore  (according  to  the  printed  rules  included 
in  this  4-page  folder)  was  not  entitled  to  any  certifi- 
cate at  all •      10.00 


68.     A  five-line  receipt  by  Stevenson's  cousin  Bob 
in  some  children's  game.     About  1856  or  1857. 

"Received  by  me  from  rex  Encyclopedia   ...  in  exchange  for 
Thepine  islands.     R.  Stevenson  rex  Noyzinton." 2  .  50 


THE  BRICK  ROW  BOOK  SHOP,  INC. 27 

A  seven-line  note,  signed  A.  C.  ("Alison  Cunningham",  or  "Cum- 
my",  Stevenson's  well-loved  nurse,  to  whom  he  dedicated  his  "Child's 
Garden  of  Verses"). 

"My  dear  Mrs.  Lloyd: 

"Will  you  please  accept  a  Scotch  Scone  of  my  baking  for 
Tea.  I  don't  expect  to  find  any  of  you  in  on  this  fine  day  so  shall 
leave  them.  Please  to  ask  the  servant  to  heat  them  a  little  in  the 
oven  before  Tea.     My  darling  Lewis  and  his  beloved  Mother."   .        lO.OO 


69.  Three  letters  to  William  Dean  Howells,  two 
from  Stevenson's  stepdaughter-in-law,  the  wife  of 
Lloyd  Osbourne;  and  one  from  his  stepdaughter  and 
secretary,  Isobel  Strong.  The  first  two  refer  to  some 
"Stevenson  Papers"  and  to  the  collected  edition  of  his 
works. 3  5  •  00 


70.  The  Stevenson  Family  Bible  for  3  generations. 
Cambridge  Stereotype  Edition.  [N.  D.  1825  on 
binding,  but  Metrical  Psalms  at  end  have  separate  title 
dated  1809.]     Old  black  morocco,  small  8vo. 

This  Bible  belonged  to  R.  L.  Stevenson's  grand-mother,  Margaret, 
and  is  marked  by  her  throughout.  The  passages  thus  marked  by  her 
were  later  published  by  the  Lighthouse  Board  for  the  use  of  the  Light- 
house workers  generally.  Her  husband  bequeathed  it  to  R.  L.  S.'s 
father,  from  whom  the  author  in  turn  inherited  it.  Four  pages 
of  MS.  memoranda  by  the  grandfather,  Robert  Stevenson. 

With  the  Vailima  bookplate  of  R.  L.  S.,  signed  by  his  stepdaughter 
Isobel  Strong.  It  is  most  interesting  to  find  Stevenson  cherishing 
a  volume  containing  the  Calvinistic  Catechism  (bound  in  at  the 
end),  after  he  had  definitely  broken  with  the  faith  of  his  parents  and 
grandparents I50.OO 


71.  Autograph  Records,  R.  L.  S.,  1893.  Seven  pp., 
folio,  preceded  by  portrait,  bound  in  full  chocolate 
morocco. 

Lists  of  letters  received  or  sent  on  seven  different 
dates,  with  notes  on  subject,  occasion,  or  content. 
"E.  L.  Burlingame,  inclosing  Family  Cruise,  ordering  books  and 
magazines. 

"/.  M.  Barrie,  inviting  him. 
"F.  W .  H.  Myers,  answering  his. 

"S.  S.  McClure,  conclude  pro  tern  the  D.  B.  [David    Balfour] 
business. 

"Clement  Shorter,  .   .   .  inquire  as  to  date  and  terms  for  short 
story. 

"Sidney  Calvin  inclose  Isle  of  Voices  and  Waif  Woman;  German 
consul  and  British.   ... 

"Mr.   and  Mrs.   Poulteney  Bigelow,   blushingly  acknowledge 
taffy. 


28  THE  BRICK  ROW  BOOK  SHOP,  INC. 


"S.  S.  McClure,  'My  First  Book.' 
"Cumtny,  257  Morningside  Road. 
"Sidney  Colvin.     X  chapters  Ebb  Tide. 
"Graham  Balfour,  prattle." 
Letters  to  or  from  many  other  well-known  figures  are  likewise 
recorded,  such  as  Henry  James,  Mark  Twain,  W.  E.  Henley,  A. 
Conan   Doyle,  Mrs.   Sitwell,   S.   R.   Crockett,  Andrew  Lang,  etc. 
A  most  unusual  and  interesting  Stevenson  item,  showing  the  wide 
range  of  his  friendships  and  interests 125-  OO 


PRINTCRAFT   PRESS,  NEW   YORK 


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Los  Angeles 

This  book  is  DUE  on  the  last  date  stamped  below. 


m  L9-Series  4939 


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AA    000  376  884    3 


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